Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
IDEMIA and SLC Digital Partner to Bind Identity to SIM Card for Hardware-Level Fraud Prevention
IDEMIA Public Security and SLC Digital have announced a partnership to embed verified identity at the SIM card level, creating a hardware-rooted authentication standard designed to eliminate SMS-based vulnerabilities. The collaboration integrates IDEMIA’s government-grade identity proofing with SLC Digital’s SIM/eSIM Root of Trust technology to deliver “deterministic, tamper-proof” identity verification. Aimed at banks, telcos, and financial institutions, the joint solution promises to prevent SIM-swap and account-takeover fraud by physically anchoring identity to a device’s SIM, forming a “trust triangle” between user, bank, and carrier.
Russia Proposes Using State Biometric Platform (ESIA) for Mandatory Adult Content Age Verification
Russian lawmakers are advancing a proposal to require citizens to use the national e-government and biometric platforms—Gosuslugi, ESIA, and UBS—for age verification before accessing online content deemed “adult.” Officials claim the measure protects minors, but critics warn it will permanently link verified state identities to individuals’ browsing habits, erasing online anonymity. The move fits within Russia’s broader “digital sovereignty” agenda and its push toward centralized identity control across all online interactions.
Cognitec Delivers 250 FaceVACS-Entry Cameras for Australia’s Biometric Border Automation
Cognitec Systems is supplying 250 FaceVACS-Entry biometric capture devices to the Australian Department of Home Affairs for deployment at major international airports. The systems automatically adjust to a traveler’s height to capture ICAO-compliant facial images, supporting Australia’s transition to fully automated border processing. The contract, covering hardware, integration, and maintenance, underscores Australia’s commitment to scaling biometric infrastructure for high-volume border management.
IBM Targets Banks with ‘Digital Asset Haven’ Platform for Compliant Crypto Custody
IBM has launched “Digital Asset Haven,” an enterprise-grade custody and settlement platform developed with wallet infrastructure provider Dfns. The platform targets regulated financial institutions seeking secure, compliant access to tokenized assets. Supporting over 40 blockchains, it provides custody, transaction, and settlement functions under existing banking compliance standards. IBM aims to become the preferred infrastructure partner for institutions entering the tokenized economy, combining its security expertise with Dfns’s wallet-as-a-service technology.
DHS Finalizes Rule Mandating Biometric Exit for All Non-Citizens; Scraps ‘Pilot’ Status for Nationwide Facial Recognition Rollout
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule mandating biometric exit checks for all non-citizens at every U.S. port of departure, removing previous “pilot” program limitations. The rule grants Customs and Border Protection permanent authority to collect facial biometrics at airports, land ports, and seaports. Effective December 26, 2025, it marks the transition from test deployments to nationwide infrastructure and signals major procurement opportunities for camera and software vendors supporting large-scale border digitization.
Mali Launches ‘E-AES’ Biometric Passport, Taps China’s Emptech in ‘Digital Sovereignty’ Move
Mali has launched a new biometric passport supplied by China’s Emptech, replacing France’s Idemia amid a broader geopolitical realignment. The “E-AES” passport—referencing the Confederation of Sahel States formed by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—embodies the government’s push for “technological independence and local data control.” The shift underscores a growing trend of African nations prioritizing digital sovereignty and favoring non-Western partners for national identity and travel document infrastructure.
Clear Expands Healthcare Footprint, Rolling Out Biometric Patient Check-In to 150+ Wellstar Locations
Clear is expanding its biometric “Clear1” patient check-in system to over 150 Wellstar Health System sites across Georgia after a successful pilot demonstrated 1,500 hours of staff time saved and higher digital check-in adoption. The facial-recognition-based system replaces manual processes, improving data integrity and reducing duplicate patient records. The rollout strengthens Clear’s diversification into healthcare, positioning its biometrics as an operational efficiency solution for high-volume, identity-critical environments.
Daon and MATTR Partner to Enable Mobile Driver’s License Integration with Biometric Identity Verification
Daon has integrated mobile driver’s license (mDL) support into its identity platform through a partnership with MATTR, enabling verifiable credential issuance and acceptance alongside biometric verification. The collaboration adheres to ISO/IEC 18013 standards and allows selective, privacy-preserving data disclosure. With mDLs now approved in 20 U.S. states and growing internationally, Daon’s addition of MATTR’s infrastructure positions it to support interoperable, privacy-first credential ecosystems across government and enterprise use cases.
Prove Launches Verified Agent to Secure Emerging Agentic Commerce Ecosystem
Prove has launched “Verified Agent,” a framework that establishes cryptographically verified identity and consent for AI-driven agentic commerce. The solution ties digital agents’ actions to human or business identities through tokenized credentials and a shared trust registry. Built on Prove’s Identity Graph and supporting the AP2 protocol, the platform provides audit-grade verification for autonomous transactions. It extends Prove’s ongoing expansion in financial identity security as AI agents begin to participate in real-world commerce.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team